The failure of vaccination threatens the eradication of the disease in Brazil

of the adult calendar are below the target at Brazil – including the dose that protects against measles a disease that records outbreaks in at least three states. Among the children the situation is not very different – in 2017, only BCG, which protects against tuberculosis and is still applied in the maternity ward, has reached the goal of 90% vaccination.

Eradicated diseases may return

The trend of declining immunization coverage, according to the record, began to appear in 2016 and has continued to increase since then. In 312 Brazilian municipalities, less than 50% of children were vaccinated against poliomyelitis . Although it has been eradicated in the country since 1990, the disease is still considered endemic in at least three countries – Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan – and reintroduces itself into the Americas if immunization coverage is not maintained at 95%

. the BCG, which protects against tuberculosis and which is still applied to maternity, has reached the goal of 90% vaccination (Antonio Cruz / Agência Brasil)

For the coordinator of the Program National Immunization, Carla Domingues, the success of vaccination in the country in recent decades and the eradication of diseases that resulted have created a false sense that doses are no longer necessary. Another problem, according to her, is the disclosure of false news in the social networks and that, in the case of vaccines, can bring the population to boast and frighten

"If we We do not have the population properly vaccinated, we risk to reintroduce diseases.There is, for example, a constant flow of people traveling.If we stop vaccinating, a sick person arrives in the country and the virus has the possibility of returning to circulation.As long as the disease is not eradicated in the world, we need vaccination. "

Measles

According to the coordinator, the situation of measles in Brazil is the more disturbing. Amazonas and Roraima, together, already record about 500 confirmed cases and more than 1,500 in the survey. Rio Grande do Sul has also confirmed at least six cases. High-income countries, according to Carla, "relaxed" with vaccination. Italy, Greece and Bulgaria are examples of countries with low immunization coverage against the disease

"Measles is a real risk, with over 450 confirmed cases in the north, in Roraima and the Amazon. There are confirmed cases in Rio Grande do Sul [Estamos] Investigations of cases in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro We can have a retransmission of measles across the country, "he warned. "Health professionals themselves no longer believe that recommending a vaccine is important."

The ministry advises that all children, adolescents, and adults under 29 years of age receive both doses for vaccination. Adults aged between 30 and 49 should receive one dose.

Campaigns

Until 2012, Brazil conducted two annual polio vaccination campaigns – a period marked by the character Zé Gotinha. Currently, only influenza vaccination and multi-vaccination campaigns take place, when delayed children's schedule doses are updated. However, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization for low coverage situations, the pulp will again carry out a vaccination campaign against polio and measles this year.

The doses, according to Carla, should be distributed throughout the country. August 31, in the format of the campaign indiscriminately. This means that all children under the age of 1 and under 5 looking for a job in this period will be vaccinated – even those who have already served the scheduled doses in the children's calendar. "This will be an opportunity to strengthen the child and enhance immunity," he says

Strategies

Still according to the coordinator, the ministry's strategy against low coverage vaccines and recent outbreaks recorded in different parts of the country is mobilizing society and managers to warn of risks. There are situations, according to her, that involve, for example, specific neighborhoods with low adherence to vaccines or problems in recording data in the system

"The population is only looking for the vaccine when the epidemic is in the media .. Apart from that, people are not vaccinated.As if the vaccine was a curative rather than preventive action.It should come before the epidemic.It is like that you gain immunity.Although the vaccine takes at least 15 days to take effect, and in an epidemic, within this time frame, you are not adequately protected. "

(With Agência Brasil)